Re: I am HOME from TCC

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I was just reading over your post about your upcoming surgery and

wanted to add that I had a urine catheter also, but they removed it

while I was still " out of it " but coming to in recovery. Actually,

it was put in and removed all without my awareness....thankfully!

Also, the breathing tube was pulled out as soon as I got to recovery

and then I was just put on those little nose oxygen thing.

I didn't have a feeding tube, just the I.V. And, like I said, I

GAINED 10 pounds!!

I had the neatest leg massagers on my calves. They would

alternate a squeezing massage action one leg then the other. Those I

really liked. I kept those on my whole stay.

While inrecovery I also had a lovely blanket that blowed, yes blowed

a warm air at me. I guess I came out of surgery all shivery and

shaking. I was napping and my nurse turned it off....and I

immediately woke up and asked him what he was sneaking around trying

to do. I loved my heated blankie!

You mentioned staples....I have actual stitches inside me but on

the outside I only had steri strips. This morning he removed them.

So, basically less than 48 hours after surgery I have my incisions

healed together and open to the air with nothing on them! I find

that to be quite remarkable but they ensured me it was standard

proceedure. WOW!

Joy

[Guest guest]

I sympathize with your collapsed lung, and with not registering the

pain as relating to it. Weird thing, collapsed lung. I'm glad you have

a non-invasive fix going for you, I hope it works quickly and without

too much pain. I've heard horrible things about those gasses from

people who've had their tubes tied. I'm, again, glad you're so chipper

and up and about. Congratulations on what appears to be a very

successful myotomy!

> Hi all,

> Thanks for all the great wonderful wishes. Yes, I was on the

11th

> floor. I think I just had a regular gown, maybe I was flashing but

I

> don't think so...and most of the people wouldn't have noticed or

> cared. Sorry I didn't make it back to the computer for another

> report. I realized that there is one hooked right up to the

> television in the room, but I was using one down the hall to try to

> get some walking/breathing....you know, be a " good patient. "

> Anyway, my barium swallow went great with not leaks so I finally

> got a little meal of jello, broth and tea...whoopie-do.(o.k. I

wasn't

> expecting a Big Mac, but ...)

> Unfortunately my last nurse that came on shift was not so good and I

> was due for some pain medication and asked him for it. He said he

> would check on it. 1 1/2 hours later I rang again for him as I

> didn't want to be discharged feeling crummy...and he disappeared

> again...so I went myself and asked for the Charge Nurse and she took

> care of me. He had also delayed my discharge by about 4 hours by

> overlooking the Dr.s orders. So I was NOT a happy camper.

> Went to the Holiday Inn Select Lakeside - DO NOT GO THERE - DO

NOT

> STAY THERE - DO NOT - DO NOT I REPEAT!! We got the room off

> Priceline and it was supposed to be a 3 1/2 star. When I went to

> climb in the bed the sheets were stained with who knows what! After

> waiting to have them replace the sheets...I then climbed into

> the " freshly made " bed to find ...how can I put this nicely, STUFF

on

> the blanket. Now picture me, irritated, needing rest and pain

> medicine and taking the elevator down to the lobby in my nightgown

to

> yell at the manager. They moved us to a room they said was clean.

> Urgh. I didn't end up making it to bed till about 11pm.

> This morning I had an X-ray and then met with Dr. Rice again. I

> have a partially collapsed lung. It does hurt alot to breath but I

> have been doing all the breathing exercises and trying to walk

around.

> He said I was good to go home and so we drove the 3 hours home.

> I gained 10 pounds from the day before surgery to the day after!

I

> am so swollen and bloated that my pants didn't do up!

> Dr. Rice patched through a call to my room from a gal in PA and

I

> told her about our group here. Also, in recovery I met the voice of

> a nice man maned who didn't know about our group either. I

hope

> they pop on and say " HI. "

>

> Any questions?

> Joy

[Guest guest]

Joy,

I am glad to hear that everything went well, except for the one nurse who didn't get your pain meds. That happens, I guess. But I'm sure you did'nt need that extra stress. Dr. Rice is pretty good, don't you think. I'll be seeing him on Monday to take out my "J"tube.

Its a shame you had such a bad hotel to stay in. My daughter and I will be staying in a tt hotel in Westlake. (I think it's about a 1/2 hr. from the clinic) I also used priceline. My appt is on Monday morning and thats the only way I figured I could do it. Cleveland is about a 5hr drive for me.

Any way, how are you feeling now? Are you supposed to be just on a soft food diet?

Jan in NKY

[Guest guest]

Joy --

Glad to see that you are home!I had a similar (nasty) experience at the Comfort Inn in downtown Cleveland.... I just read that Cleveland is the #1 city for poverty in the US -- but you wouldn't think it would apply to major name hotels in downtown!!! I've been thinking of making a database for hotels to recommend/avoid in Cleveland, since so many of us in the Midwest region end up going there.I love all the info you've provided about specifics related to your experience at TCC. It will be so helpful for others who will be going there! Would you be willing to combine all the various details from all your emails this week into a "my experiences with heller myotomy at TCC" type of essay? We could save it in the Files section so that anyone in the future can use your tips and insight to make their experience the best possible. Not only is it helpful to know the little specifics in advance, but it can also really ease the anxiety of those who are worried about surgery in general -- I know I'm one of those "control freak" types who prefers to know as much as possible in advance. If I can prepare for something in advance (even if there's nothing I can do about it), then I can know that it's one less thing to be worried about b/c I already know what's going to happen. )

Keep us posted on your progress!Debbi in Michigan (aka Pepto-Deb)

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbi,

Sure, I don't mind putting it together. Maybe I can spend more

time sitting at the computer next week and organize my thoughts

better. I would have liked to know some specific details myself.

Great idea!

Joy

--- " Debbi Heiser " <heiser@t...> wrote:

> Joy --

>

> Glad to see that you are home!

>

> I had a similar (nasty) experience at the Comfort Inn in downtown

Cleveland.... I just read that Cleveland is the #1 city for poverty

in the US -- but you wouldn't think it would apply to major name

hotels in downtown!!! I've been thinking of making a database for

hotels to recommend/avoid in Cleveland, since so many of us in the

Midwest region end up going there.

>

> I love all the info you've provided about specifics related to your

experience at TCC. It will be so helpful for others who will be

going there! Would you be willing to combine all the various details

from all your emails this week into a " my experiences with heller

myotomy at TCC " type of essay? We could save it in the Files section

so that anyone in the future can use your tips and insight to make

their experience the best possible. Not only is it helpful to know

the little specifics in advance, but it can also really ease the

anxiety of those who are worried about surgery in general -- I know

I'm one of those " control freak " types who prefers to know as much as

possible in advance. If I can prepare for something in advance (even

if there's nothing I can do about it), then I can know that it's one

less thing to be worried about b/c I already know what's going to

happen. )

>

> Keep us posted on your progress!

>

> Debbi in Michigan (aka Pepto-Deb)